Arsenal have joined Inter Milan in the race to sign Newcastle United star Ayoze Perez, it has been claimed.
According to The Sun, Arsenal have emerged as the latest club to be linked with a move for Ayoze Perez. The Newcastle attacker has recently admitted that he will be open to exploring new opportunities and a big-money summer move could be on the cards.
However, the Gunners will face stiff competition with Inter Milan and Napoli also keen on his services in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Ayoze Perez: An interesting option for Arsenal
Perez has been a revelation for Newcastle United this season, having scored 12 goals in 37 matches. The Spaniard has expertly taken his opportunities and utilised the space created by the likes of Salomon Rondon and Miguel Almiron to help the Magpies finish the season in a mid-table position.
In fact, Perez recently starred in the thumping 4-0 win over Fulham yesterday, scoring the second goal. And although the Spaniard is by no means a regular goalscorer, his ability to manipulate opposition defences could make him an appealing option for Arsenal next season.
The Gunners will brace themselves for life without Aaron Ramsey next season while the attacking trifecta of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi have struggled with consistency.
Hence, the addition of someone like Perez could provide more edge to the Arsenal attack, which boasts the services of two lethal forwards in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
The 25-year-old, therefore, can be utilised in a more withdrawn role, where his clever movements could be useful in creating more opportunities in the final third. Perez is also known for his versatility as he can play anywhere in attack, including the number nine role, which could offer Unai Emery with additional options as far as his tactical choices are concerned.
Furthermore, the Newcastle star is an aggressive attacker, who likes to commit himself into tackles and has a high defensive work-rate. This could potentially make him a better fit at Arsenal than Ozil, whose apparent lack of enthusiasm and work-rate have repeatedly been highlighted by his naysayers.
The report claims that Perez could cost around £25 million, which could serve Arsenal well as they are likely to face budget restraints after failing to finish inside the top four.